All language subtitles for Masters.of.Sex.[S04E04].XviD.Amedia.[qqss44]_eng

Previously
on Masters of Sex...

We have to hire new people.

New partners.

Pleasure to meet you.
Nancy Leveau.

Art Dreesen.

Wish me luck on my first day.

Good luck, baby.

I don't understand.

They're married.

I don't know why

you're sending yourself
flowers from Dan,

and I'm not asking.

I can't remember
the last time I satisfied her.

- And you would prefer he...
- Take control.

Say what he wants.

Are you sure you want me to?

Honestly,
I can barely feel you.

Ouch! Gary, stop!

That is enough!

Uh, Virginia and Dan
never married.

You knew Virginia would
never give up her work,

and I knew Dan would
always return to me.

We predicted it,
and we were right.

My husband and I,
we have an agreement,

an arrangement,

and that is nobody's business
but our own.

I'm also in an open marriage,
so I judge no one, ever.

♪ sultry music ♪

You okay?

Do you need help?

Are you
all right to drive?

Some night, eh?

Looks like you got lucky
after all, huh?

♪ light jazzy music ♪

Shit!

Wh--one--damn it.

Operator.

Hello. May I have the number

for the Checker Cab Company
please?

You had them all along?

Well...

I didn't see the night ending
this way. Did you?

The two of us here like this?

Well, I hope you're capable
of changing your ways.

Otherwise, I really don't think
this arrangement is gonna last.

Did you sleep at all?

14, 16...
you haven't opened the piano.

Not yet. I will.

Art, could you do it now?

There's no time to get
everything done after work.

Oh, shoot.
Okay, now I've lost count.

Two, four, six, eight, ten--

What's got you so worried?

Virginia was sure
he's not coming.

- You're certain?
- She said Bill doesn't

make appearances unless he's
being honored for something.

Even then, he arrives late,
leaves after the photo.

We're in the clear.

And Virginia is
bringing someone?

I do not want to end up with
an odd number like last time.

I think it's a good sign
that she's coming. Don't you?

She wouldn't have said yes
if she were still mad

about us hiding
that we're married.

Did she say
who she is bringing?

Nope.

But you're sure she understood
to bring a date?

- Yep.
- How do you know?

Because I winked
and licked my lips,

and then I used the special
swingers' handshake

She understood, Nance.
Believe me.

It's just a casual

get-together
with a few of their neighbors.

Don't worry.
You're already off the hook.

I told them that
you're not one for parties.

Morning, Lester.

You know, you really don't
have to concern yourself

about my social calendar,
Virginia.

I'm sorry. I thought
that I was doing you a favor.

I'm sure if you want to go--

God, no.
Of course I don't want to go.

Besides,
I have the children tonight.

Oh. That's probably why Libby
invited me to a movie.

We're meeting
at Art and Nancy's first.

Lester, are you going?

I wasn't invited.

Well, I'm inviting you.

Art made quite a point
of insisting

that I don't come alone.

Why don't you bring
your husband, then?

I was going to,
but he's stuck in Miami.

A lot of swamps
in Florida.

Lester, just come.
I'm sure the more, the merrier.

And bring Jane.
I haven't seen her in a while.

Yeah, you and me both.

We're ships that pass
in the morning

after she's back from cavorting
with her male lover.

Did I tell you
she has a male lover?

What's all this?

This?
This isn't even half of it.

He also got
into Howie's box spring,

and he shat--
he shat, Bill--

in Barbie's Dream House.

Well, he is a puppy.
What did you expect?

Well, for starters, Bill,
I didn't expect you

to buy the kids a dog without
asking my permission first.

Libby, Baxter is strictly
the children's responsibility.

No, I made that

very clear to them

before we even left the
pet store, and they promised.

Which shows exactly how much
you know about children.

They will say anything.

I mean, Jenny promised me

she would stop making fun
of Howie's bangs

if I let her watch 15
more minutes of television,

and the second
the show was over,

she was calling him Moe Howard.

- I don't know who that is.
- Because you are not

in the trenches
with these children

day in and day out
the way that I am.

All right, I will, um--

I'll talk to the kids
tonight when I pick them up.

I will make it crystal clear
what is expected of them.

But really, you know,

it's always tough
at the beginning with a pet.

You just have to show him
who's boss.

And this past week
since your session?

It's been awful.

Gary and I have
barely spoken.

I don't know
what to say to her.

I've apologized,
but I think at the same time,

she owes me an apology too,
you know?

Not the response
she expected to elicit.

I wanted him to act
like a real man.

Isn't that the way
it's supposed to be?

The husband's the strong one,

and the wife's more demure?

Well, I'm not sure

that a woman
who's truly demure

would insist
on being dominated.

Is there any particular reason,
anything in your background

that would make you think this
is how a couple should behave?

You asked about my dad.

He worked the line at Birdseye
for 40 years.

I used to think all that time
watching peas and carrots

roll past
on a conveyer belt

made him real good
at finding fault in an instant.

Mom got the brunt of it.

Gave her a black eye once
for dog-earing a paperback.

Can you imagine?

Unfortunately, I can.

I've known men like that.

It never occurred to me
that any woman would ever want

to be treated that way.

Fran, of all people,
she always seemed so easygoing.

Even on our first date...

He asked if he could
order for me,

and my heart skipped a beat.

I thought, "Oh, yeah,
he's a take-charge kind of guy."

And that appealed to you?

Well, you wouldn't ask that

if you'd seen my mother
in a restaurant

ordering for my dad.

"Howard will have the lo mein."

And him just opening and closing
his mouth like a guppy.

She laid out his clothes
in the morning.

She wrote out
what to say to his boss

when he asked for a raise.

He used to say he was 5'11"
when they got married,

but he'd be buried
in a child's coffin.

That's how much
she'd cut him down to size.

I wanted a "honey,
I'm home" type of marriage.

A husband kisses his wife
at the door,

tells her how delicious
her pot roast is.

And before they have sex,

he asks if she's in the mood,

and if she's not,
that's fine.

There's tomorrow.

I wanted to show her
love and respect.

All the things
your father never did.

I wanted him
to take charge.

I wanted him
to put his pleasure first,

to--to be the man
so I could feel like--

Like you weren't your mother.

Well, it certainly explains why
she wanted a man to take charge.

And why he couldn't
possibly be that man.

I mean, it's--
it's remarkable, actually.

They couldn't be more wrong
for each other,

each one wanting something
the other is

constitutionally incapable
of giving.

If only they'd been able to let
down their guard with each other

when they first met.

Well, I'm sure
they didn't understand

how their childhoods
had affected them.

That kind of insight takes
a long time to develop.

And for you?

What did it take?

It took, uh...

a while.

What?

I thought that you were
going to say that it took me

to ask the right questions
and make you feel safe enough

to reveal your secrets.

I've told you mine.

Not all of them,
I'm sure.

Well, certainly you know
why I'm the right person

to treat a woman with
a steamroller of a mother,

don't you?

How do we treat them?
That's the question.

Is there any point
to further sensate therapy?

No. It's too traumatic for him
to engage with her physically,

knowing what she wants
from him sexually.

- Agreed.
- So then what?

I mean, where do they
go from here?

Do they love each other
enough to make it work?

No, the question isn't, do they
love each other enough?"

It's, are they willing
to truly engage

in the work of intimacy?

To stand naked in front of
each other outside the bedroom?

Are they capable of reflection,

of--of change?

Are they able to let go of
and forgive each other

for the hurt and disappointment
that's brought them here?

I'll set another
appointment with them,

and we'll see.

You have the kids tonight,
you say?

Mm. I'm taking them to see
something called, uh...

The Love Bug?

In case you were wondering,

it's about a Volkswagen,

not an epidemic.

You don't have to dig
into your private stash.

I'm sure there'll be
a full bar.

What if there's a line?

Oh, Helen says
the smell of this stuff

makes her retch these days.

Ah, which is too bad,
'cause the way she usually gets

through her folks' visits is
with the help of her boyfriend,

Jim Beam.

Jane has a boyfriend.
Did I tell you his name?

Corky St. Angeles.

Well, did I tell you he produces
that piece of shit kids' show...

Farmer Philo's Feed Bag.

- Yeah.
- You might have mentioned it.

She screws him,

comes home with balloon
animals for the kids.

Is that sick, or what?

I'll make a deal with you,
Lester, honey.

You try to get Corky

out of your mind,
and I'll try to forget

about the salesman who Helen's
parents think knocked her up.

- ...and then left town.
- And then high-tailed it

out of town.

You usually say
"high-tailed it."

Come on in.
The water is warm.

I'm Lyle Schwartz.

I'm Kyle O'Brien.

I'm kidding.
We're brothers.

Oh, uh, how does anyone
tell you apart?

Well, one of us
is circumcised...

And the other isn't.

- All right.
- Yeah.

- Oh, no thank you.
- No.

- Here you go.
- Thank you.

Oh, hey.

- Knock, knock.
- Hey, you two.

How's it looking in there?

It's an attractive crowd.
Not a beast in the bunch.

So what's it gonna be tonight?
Keys?

Well, that got confusing last
time since some of the wives

drove their husbands.

Well, how about this time
the men get to pick, huh?

We have all those coats
piled in the guest room.

Coats it is.

You didn't have to wait outside.

You could've gone in without me.

And walk into a party
where I know no one?

Well, you know
Betty and Lester.

I just need to say
a quick hello to the host.

Grab a bite to eat
if you're hungry.

We'll cut out with plenty
of time to catch the movie.

- May I take your coats?
- Oh, that's all right.

We're not staying long.

Oh, we don't want
to cart them around, do we?

Thank you.

Do you think there are
any single men here?

Don't you worry. We'll
have you home before sunrise.

Probably a few.
Are you in the market?

I think I might be ready...

at least to flirt.

Be fun to flirt,
don't you think?

Well, good thing
we brought two cars.

Jane has that blouse.
It's probably hanging

off of Corky St. Angeles'
lampshade right now.

Care for some crap?

I think they're
called crepes.

Wait till you taste 'em.

Virginia, you've come!

Indeed, I have.
What a beautiful place you have.

Uh, have you met Libby?
Libby, Nancy.

Are you the woman Michael has
been telling us so much about?

Michael?

You're not the dental
hygienist from Kansas City?

No. Libby's with me.

I'm sorry?

I came with Virginia.

Is that a problem?

Art encouraged me
to bring a friend.

No, it's not a problem at all.
Let's get you two some drinks.

We've hired this
wonderful bartender

who does amazing things
with tequila.

Michael, I thought this lovely
woman was your girlfriend.

Lisa?
No. We split up.

She kept insisting she was
my rebound after Erica.

Uh, my wife. Well, ex-wife.

So you're here alone?

I am so sorry about that,

but it does really help
with our numbers.

Michael Schaeffer,
this is Virginia--

now do you go by Johnson
or Logan outside the office?

How old-fashioned is
that husband of yours?

Dan's fine with either,
so I've stuck with Johnson.

Dan Logan is your husband?

I'll be damned.
Uh, the three of us

are supposed to be having
dinner next week in New York.

We are?

Mike. Mike Schaeffer.
He didn't mention it?

No--of course. Mike.

Mike Schaeffer. Yes.

Hey, I suggested
a restaurant,

but he said
you were a fabulous cook.

He said Virginia was?

I make one or two things well.

That reminds me,
I have completely forgotten

to leave dinner instructions
with the babysitter.

If you'll excuse me,
may I use your phone?

In the kitchen--
I'll show you.

Harry--and Linda,
don't you look pretty!

Coats in the bedroom,
everyone.

Hi. Libby Masters.

I'm also divorced.

Does seem to be going around
these days.

John? Jenny?

Howie? Come on, shake a leg.

Howie?

Jenny?

Kids?

You having fun?

Betty met Mookie.

Yeah. Very big with the
hand gestures, that Mookie.

- Do we have any seltzer?
- Guess what, honey.

Turns out Mike Schaeffer
knows Virginia's husband, Dan.

- Is that right?
- They're all getting

together in New York
in a few weeks.

You know, we'd love to meet Dan,

maybe the next time
he's in St. Louis.

Great.

Hey, Nance, uh, I could use
your help for a sec.

Will you excuse me a moment?

You know what works even better
than seltzer, Art,

is ginger ale.

Give me one sec.

Ginger ale does not
get out stains.

I know that.

What?

Really? You want me to say it?

What are you gonna do when this
Mike guy gets back from New York

and says to these two,

"Hey, guess who isn't married
to Dan Logan."

Shh, shh, shh.

She thinks I don't know
where they're coming from.

Oh.

Like a person could
actually just,

in the course
of their normal life,

bump into that many people
who make balloon animals.

You know what
the ironic thing is?

Do you?

Well, do you?

What is the ironic thing?

I got the tickets

for her and little Hugo
to see the stupid fucking show.

- Are you gonna finish that?
- I was--

I'll grab us a couple more.

You don't think
that six months is too soon

to get seriously involved
with someone new?

Ah, you sound like Lisa.
Look, I swear

I wasn't rebounding,
all right?

I mean, she was just threatened
by how close Erica and I are.

- You mind?
- Oh, no.

We actually renewed our vows.

You and your ex?

Yep.
It was Erica's therapist's idea

to do it for Nicky and Aaron.

- Uh-huh.
- We solemnly pledged

to love each other,
not as husband and wife,

but as best friends.

You actually had a ceremony?

That is so beautiful.

And how about you?

How about you and your ex?

Are you close?

Uh, uh...very close.

Yeah, extremely close.

Bill and I
have found, um--

Um, his name is Bill.

But as long as we can sit down
and take each other by the hand

and really just say,
you know,

"Honey, you know how much
I love you and I value you,"

um, then everything
that comes after that

just goes so much more easily.

Yeah, there's no moving on
until you're good with your ex.

- Come on in.
- Mm.

Um, Mike, do you mind--

just switch places
with you really quick?

Libby Masters?

Boy...girl...

Boy? Girl?
I can't tell.

Boy's or girl's?

Mm. Oh, that's, uh,
Debbie DeLaurio's.

She and Glenn just got back
from a cruise in Acapulco.

They say buffet
adds a pound a day.

I'd say they were gone
about a month. You?

Easy. Art happens
to like a woman

with a little meat
on her bones.

You know what I like.

What do you like?

I like you.

You know, sooner or later,
just statistically speaking,

it's gonna be, you know, us.

You and me.

Got it?

The fix is in.

Two olives.

Coats, huh?
Well, I dig it.

Well, well, well.

I have to say you're the last
person I expected to find

at a party like this.

Party like what?

Oh, well,
I occasionally imbibe.

You know, as shrewd
a judge of character

as I consider myself to be,

I have to admit I have
seriously misjudged you,

Libby Masters.

- Bram Keller. How do you do?
- Yeah. Nice to meet you.

Definitely more to this lady
than meets the eye.

- Mike.
- You'd think prim and proper,

wouldn't you, Ike, just based
on outward appearances?

But I am telling you,
this one, inside,

is a roiling cauldron
of rage.

You just tap her
ever so slightly, and...

Mount Etna.

That is not true.
That's not true.

Mr. Keller and I recently had
a very unpleasant dealing.

I'm representing her ex
in a lawsuit,

and this one would rather see
him strung up by his ball sack

than lift a finger to help.

I--that's not at all--

Hey, no apologies necessary.
I, for one, find

a beautiful woman with a filthy
mouth extremely appealing.

Are you and Mark
here an item?

- Uh, no, we're not.
- We just met each other.

In fact, I'm gonna--
I'm gonna get a refill.

- Oh, great. Great idea.
- Would you bring me another--

Hey, pal, if you want to do
a little do-si-do with Gloria,

the gal I walked in here with,

she's got quite a beaver.

What?

Her coat is beaver.

Care to tell me
what yours looks like?

My coat...

is a plaid cape.

Why on earth would you
want to know that?

Do you really not know
what kind of party this is?

I'm going to clear all this up
about Dan.

I am. Soon.

Soon is too far away.

Virginia, there's no shame
in it not working out.

In fact, there's
a certain kind of honor

in recognizing
right at the beginning

that a marriage
is not meant to be

and ending it.

Dan and I didn't get married.

It never got that far.

Well, you at least
got to tell Bill.

He's gonna find out,
Virginia.

It's better if he finds out
from you.

For the life of me,
I can't figure out

why Helen would rather risk

her parents finding out
about me by accident

than just sitting them down

and telling them the truth.

I'll tell him. I will.

Tomorrow.

No time like the present.

- Hiya, Bill.
- Where are the kids?

Um, Jenny's at her friend
Rebecca's house,

and Howie and Johnny
are at Tommy Hershfeld's.

- Excuse me.
- Well, they were supposed to be

with me tonight; you knew
I'd made plans with them.

You didn't think to call?

It must have slipped
my mind, Bill.

Excuse me. Is there a black
and white cape back there?

So you made me go
all the way over there?

I'm sorry, Bill. Did I
selfishly inconvenience you?

Did I thoughtlessly
capitulate to the children

without any concern
for how it affected you?

- Where you going?
- Home.

- Ooh.
- Oh, here we go.

Okay!

Okay, everybody.
Settle down, boys and girls.

Now, before we get started,

we have a few newcomers tonight.

- Ooh, la-la.
- So let's review the procedure.

- Art?
- Okay, well,

tonight it's
gentlemen's choice.

- All right!
- Whoo!

No do-overs unless you get
the person you came with.

Do you want to mention
the twins?

Double trouble.

If Kyle and Lyle pick you,
be forewarned...boys?

We do everything together.

So you are allowed

to bow out if that's not
your cup of tea.

Holy shit. It's a fucking
key party with coats.

Holy shit.

What does that mean?

It means, Lester, dear,

your night is about
to get much better.

Everyone makes
his or her way

back home by 6:00?

Now, Art, host's choice:

you want to go first,
or you want to pick last?

- I want to pick first.
- That a boy.

Guy, can I get
a little drumroll, please?

Whose is it?

Who does this belong to?

Whose is this?

No.

Come on. Don't be shy.

- Anyone?
- Not mine.

All right.

Yeah, there she is.

Looks like someone's anxious
to get this show on the road.

Let the games begin.

Enjoy him.

It's here somewhere.

Are you sure it's
on this block?

I parked it near a tree.

Wait.

Is that--that's it.

I found it.

Okay. You're not driving.
Give me the keys.

You don't even have
a license.

Well, look.

I think the options are
I risk going to jail

or you risk ending up
in a ditch.

How long do you think
they'd put you away for?

Bram, was it?

You'll have to forgive
my tan lines.

No one on the ship warned us

how strong the sun is
on the equator.

Uh...

Anyone? Anyone?

Come on.
Don't be shy.

"Expressly for you
by Miss Davenport," size six.

Honey, isn't that yours?

- It's somebody's.
- Who is it?

Pass.

There's
no passing allowed, Adele.

Come on, Adele.
You've done this before.

Don't be a party pooper.

Uh, it--

it's--it's okay.

She--she can pass.

Thank you.

Good one, Randy.

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

Yeah.

Look alive, maestro.

Take the coat
and don't ask questions.

Oh, I'm not here
to participate

in whatever this is.

I was just hired
to play the piano till 9:00.

I don't mean
to burst your bubble,

but I'm not trying
to get into your pants.

Look, if it were up to me,
I'd be out the door,

but my ride has apparently
up and disappeared

right at the moment that
everyone has lost their mind

and decided to start playing
sexual roulette.

I'm not sure what you're
looking for from me.

I'm looking
for a little moral support

from the only other homo
at this party.

Now take my goddamn coat.

Thank you so much.

How did you know that I was...

You've played
"Don't Rain on My Parade"

twice in the last half hour.

You might as well be
wearing a flashing sign.

Moment of truth.

Oh, my God!

Okay.

What happened
to my keys?

Did you actually think
that this was going to happen?

Oh, come on.
I saw you in that bar

with a man
who isn't your husband.

That is my private life.

And there are people out there--
Lester and Betty--

who work for me.

- You work for me.
- Not here.

Here, you're a guest in my home,
in my bedroom.

And I'm not sure
if you've noticed,

but I've got your coat.

Well, if you think
that we're going to bed,

you're insane.

So are you just going
to stand there,

or are you gonna help me
find my keys?

You know,
I think the damage is done

whether we mess around or not.

If you leave in two minutes
or two hours,

it's not gonna change
what people think.

So that's your argument
for going to bed with you?

"May as well.
People already think we have."

That means first thing
tomorrow morning,

you are going to disabuse
each and every one of them

of that mispercep--

Is that--
is that Nancy?

- It is.
- Oh, yeah. Yeah!

- Well, yes and no.
- Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Sorry. Yes and no?

I mean, technically, yes,
that's her,

but, uh, she's not herself.

That's not my wife.
She's someone else with him.

She's pretending.

Speaking as a clinician,
it sounds pretty authentic.

Well, come on. You never pretend
to be someone you're not?

Who do you think she is
with that guy

that she's not with you?

It's purely sexual.

It's just gears and pistons.

She doesn't care about him.
It's a game.

She'll learn something
and bring it back into our bed.

I guarantee you
her eyes are closed.

What about yours
when you're with someone else?

Are your eyes open or closed?

Closed. I'm pretending too.

Oh, yeah?
What are you pretending?

To enjoy it.

You said you need a cab.

Phone's where it's always been.

What is wrong with you?

You just left everything
like this?

Well, yes,
I went to find out

where my children
had disappeared to.

Oh, and just so you know,
that enclosure is not secure.

Oh, you think?

Stop it!

Baxter, you hear me?
You stop your yapping!

He's reacting
to the tenor of your voice.

He's not reacting
to the tenor of my voice!

A few more decibels,
perhaps the neighbors will.

You know what, Bill?

You don't get to lecture me
about anything.

And you don't get to blame me
for everything.

You know, not everything
I do deserves to be seen

as a slap in the face to you.

I'm not making decisions
to deliberately hurt you.

And yet you manage to.

I bought the kids a dog, Libby.

He takes up very little room,
and if you weren't so focused

on his chewing proclivities,

you'd see he's very--

this is not a word I use,
but cute.

There it is.
He--

He's not gonna behave
like this forever.

Look. Everything is
hard to begin with

but gets easier.

Not us.

We started easy.

Now look at us.

Do you know that there are
exes out there

who are actually best friends?

Well, maybe that'll
be us one day.

May I be frank, Bill?

I fantasize about you
getting decapitated.

Do you think it's possible
to end up in a good place

with someone whose head you
imagine rolling down the street

and into a sewer?

Okay, what--what can I fix?

You know, instead of you
just screaming at me,

which solves nothing,

what can I make better?

Is this like a genie
who gives you three wishes,

only you're just giving me one?

Fine. Three.

You want me to clean up
the pillow stuffing?

That is not worth a wish.

Okay. Okay.

I want you to promise
not to make me the bad guy

with the kids.

It's hard enough
to keep them in line

without you making decisions

that completely undermine
my authority.

Agreed.

And don't treat me like a piece
of business that needs handling.

If you want me
to postpone the divorce,

you can ask me yourself.

Don't send that
horrible lawyer of yours.

That's two.

I'm thinking.

Cleaning up the stuffing
is still open.

I want you to go down on me.

I--I'm--I'm sorry?

I want to know
what it feels like.

And I want you
to do something for me

for the sole purpose
of giving me pleasure.

You mean now?

Right now?
Here?

Yes. Now.

Right now. Here.

But first put the dog
in the bathtub.

♪ light instrumental music ♪

Have fun, you two.

Oh, we will.

You all right?

I don't think those
appetizers sat so well.

Nothing sits well
with what you've had to drink.

You know what
I had to drink?

I know pretty much
everything about you.

Your voice hit some register

that cut through every
conversation in there,

kind of like a dog whistle.

- So then you heard of my o--
- Yeah.

Yeah, I heard all about the guy
with the animal balloons.

You need to stop wallowing in it
and just go punch the guy.

I have weak wrists.

Well, fine, but do something.

Be better than those people

and their protest
against boredom.

Be better?

In case you hadn't noticed,

I'll be leaving here alone.

So, apparently,
not only am I not good enough

for my cheating wife,

but no one in there
wants me either.

Well, they think a lot
of themselves.

Sipping cocktails
in an Ethan Allen showroom,

wondering which
upper-middle-class skirt is

contractually obligated to go
home with which Elks member.

But this isn't radical.

This is not some act
of rebellion.

I work in a sex clinic.

That's the most radical thing
I've done.

Radical is marching
through the streets,

getting roughed up by cops,

getting cuts on your wrists
from handcuffs.

You've been arrested?

- Well, no.
- Oh.

But it's
only a matter of time.

My point is, nothing radical
has ever been catered.

No.

No.

So I'm not much
of a risk taker,

and you're not much
of a radical.

We could change all that.

I'm totally prepared
to be your worthwhile cause.

You want
to change people's lives?

Overturn the world order?

You could start with me.
I'm just saying.

- Okay.
- All right, together.

♪ Won't you tell him please
to put on some speed ♪

♪ Follow my lead ♪
That's high.

♪ Oh, how I need ♪

♪ Someone to watch over me ♪

That's better.
I'm an alto.

Yeah, you are,
but you sound great.

Okay.

♪ Someone to watch over me ♪

As far as I am concerned,

popular music died in 1943,

along with Lorenz Hart.

Where have you been all my life?

What is your name again?

Guy.

- Enchante.
- Hmm.

- "Ghee"?
- "Ghee."

- Spell that.
- G-U-Y.

I hate to break it to you,
"Ghee," but that is Guy.

Anywho--oh, it's 9:00.

It's time for you to clock out.

Can I take you home?

Oh, it's been a long time

since a handsome young man
asked me that

and even longer
since I said yes.

You'll have to drop me
at the office.

What? On a Friday night?

What do you do for a living?

Croon show tunes
at swingers' parties?

Ugh, I'm not going there
to work.

My girlfriend's parents
are in town.

Are you the carpool buddy
or the office colleague?

The next-door neighbor.

She'll tell them the truth
when she's ready.

- Just give her some time.
- The silver lining is,

every time
I sleep at the office,

I mark it down as overtime.

Eight hours of shut-eye
in a comfy bed

turns out to be
quite lucrative.

What kind of an office
has a bed?

Oh, you don't know
the half of it. Literally.

The place I work,
we've got two beds.

Is the other one taken?

So you're not a willing
participant in any of this?

Is that what you're saying?

It's so impossible to believe

that she's into it and I'm not?

Not at all. I'm just wondering
why you do it then.

She likes me being
with other women.

Uh-huh.

You're acting like this isn't

something you
and your husband do.

Clearly, you're okay with him
being with other women.

We're talking about you.

If I'm with other women,

it makes Nancy feel less guilty
that she wants other men.

That's the reason?

Look. I was the one
who wanted to get married.

She didn't. She knew herself.
She knew that she wasn't a...

you know, a one-man woman.

So that was the deal we made.

We gave other people our bodies

but kept our feelings
for each other.

What? You don't think
that's possible?

To separate sex and love?

Maybe that's too modern
a concept.

Modern?
Are you serious?

You think that you two are
breaking new ground here?

Yes, of course it's possible
to separate them.

Physical pleasure doesn't have
to have anything to do

with emotional intimacy.

I've been separating
the two since--since--

1925.

What?
How old do you think I am?

I--sorry. I was, uh--
I go to this barbershop,

and the sign in the window says,

"Proudly serving St. Louis
since 1925."

It just reminded me.

For the record,
I am not serving anyone.

I'm taking care of myself,

partaking in pleasure
when I choose to,

without romantic
encrumberances.

Encrumberances?

- Encumbrances, maybe?
- Encumbrances, yes.

Of course.

And presumably your husband's
not torturing himself

with thoughts of you cumming
in another man's bed.

He knows not
to feel threatened.

And there are infinite ways
that sex can happen

without love being
even remotely involved.

Such as?

I mean it.
I'm really asking.

Such as you want
to test your wattage,

see if you can turn a guy's head
enough so all other women

recede into the background.

And in bed, you want to be
the best he's ever had

so no other woman can compare.

Can you leave a mark
that's indelible?

That's the challenge.

You dazzle them,
and then you leave them ruined.

Or...you just want
to get laid

because it feels good

or there's nothing on TV.

Oh, yes! Yes!
Oh, yes!

You got any good jokes?

Oh, yes! Yes! Oh, yes!

Oh! Oh, yes! Oh, yes!
Higher.

Just talk to me

about--fuck!

Anything.
Um...

Please, Virginia.

Art, you're a romantic.

I guess.

That's...

I'm so sorry.

So...

thanks.

Thanks?

Good job?
Is that better?

Marginally.

So was it
everything you thought?

Let's not rehash it.

I'm just, uh--just glad to be
able to check that off my list.

Aren't you gonna help?

I'm just gonna need a minute.

Oh. Is that uncomfortable?

Just, you know, a tad.

Good.

Why are you still angry?

Why?

Because that was great.
That was great, okay?

We could've been doing that
for the past 20 years,

and we never did it once.

Well, you didn't seem
to want to try things.

I was a virgin
when we married, Bill.

I only knew what you showed me,

and it was so...

polite.

We had the most polite sex
in the world.

All that was missing afterwards
was a handshake

and a thank-you card.

I'm sorry you were
disappointed.

I wasn't.

That's my point. I didn't know
enough to be disappointed.

But you did.

You had been with other women.
You watched couples.

You saw what they did,
and then you found someone else

to do those things with.

Well, you did too.

Eventually.

As you shared with me
in graphic detail.

Yeah, well, it saved my life.

You never saw the person
that I was with those men.

I am actually
a carnal woman, Bill.

I want a man
to tear my clothes off,

and I want to have sex
in the shower,

and if I am gonna go
to a five-hour charity dinner,

at some point, I want to be
felt up under the goddamn table.

I would've happily felt you up.

Really?

Yes.

Those were some incredibly
boring dinners.

The only thing that I ever saw
you be truly passionate about

was your work.

I didn't demand your passion.

I just wanted you home
for dinner.

Stability above all else.

It's pretty tragic, huh?

No, don't say that.

- It's true.
- It--

It's not tragic.

We did our best.

We made three children.

And I loved you, Libby.

Maybe not the right way,

maybe--maybe not enough.

But I know that I loved you.

I loved you too.

♪ melancholy piano music ♪

- Are you close?
- Yeah. Yeah.

Is there anything
you want me to do?

Say something sexy.

Um...

civil disobedience.

It's quiet.

Mm. That's the suburbs for you.

No, I mean...

you think they're finished
for the night?

Because if so,
my job here is done.

Nancy gets stuffed up
when she sleeps.

Sometimes
she has this little...

nose whistle.

Doesn't a part of you think
that if she truly loved you

that you'd be enough for her?

I know what I signed up for.
We made a deal.

Well, deals get renegotiated.

It'd be one thing
if you were okay with it,

which happens to be
my situation,

but clearly, you're not.

You tell me, Virginia,

when is it ever absolutely equal
between partners anyway?

Huh?

Where you both feel exactly
the same thing for each other

at the same time,
in the same amount?

If I want to,

why can't I love her
more than she loves me?

No man's ever loved you more
than you've loved him?

What?

Only all of them.

It sounds like I'm bragging.

I'm not.
I'm really not.

It's sad, actually.

But has it ever occurred to you,
with all due respect,

that maybe your wife
is not...

all that?

Maybe it's you that
she's pretending with?

You think you know her,
but you don't. Not really.

If you really did know her,
her true self,

then maybe she
wouldn't be so...

Dazzling?

I don't care.
It doesn't matter.

How can it not matter?

Your husband loves you,
right?

And what makes you
worthy of his love?

Is it because your
respective infidelities

cancel each other out?

Maybe he knows
who you really are...

not your body in bed
or your mind at work,

but the secret you,

the person you
don't want anyone to see,

much less acknowledge yourself,

a woman who is fucked up,

and he loves you anyway.

Isn't that true love?

Someone who'll kiss
your bruises

the same way
he kisses your lips,

who's on your side,
not when it's easy,

but when it's
damn near impossible,

when you yourself
don't think you deserve it?

I have never been hungrier
in my entire life.

Why is that?

Well, you worked up
an appetite.

Hmm.

I should probably be
getting home.

You want me to drive you?

I was thinking I might walk.

Bill, it's got to be,
like, three miles.

It's nice this time.
Streets are empty.

It's a good time
to do some thinking.

About what?

About what happened here
tonight.

Mm. Let's not make
too much of it.

Pickle?

Let's not make
too little.

You know what
I'd really like?

I mean really,
really like?

Well, you haven't been too shy
about asking so far.

Can you take Baxter
for a pee?

You got me into bed at last.

That was the plan all along.
Admit it.

Art, the world's only
reluctant swinger,

was just an act.

I know your coat,
Virginia.

You wear it
to the office every day.

So you picked me on purpose.

- That I did.
- Aha.

Because you wanted
to go to bed with me.

Because I knew you wouldn't.

You're my boss,

and bosses shouldn't sleep
with their employees.

Not ever.

Isn't that right?

It happens.
Sometimes it happens.

How does it happen?

Perhaps you have
some special insight.

I don't.

Gonna have to use
your imagination.

What if we imagined
together?

- Why would we do that?
- Mm.

Role-playing can be
an effective technique.

Come on. I'm a shrink.

Humor me a little, would you?

Do I keep you late
after work one night?

Tell you my wife
doesn't understand me,

that we're essentially
living like roommates?

When you request a raise,

do I ask for a little
something in return?

No. It's not like that.

Okay, then.

What is it like?
Do I proposition you?

No. You're awkward...

and nervous.

You do not know
what you're doing.

You barely
even make eye contact.

And then you take pity on me?

No. I wait...

until I feel something.

An attraction?

Mm...

a shared passion.

Not for each other,
not at first.

For the work.

But I'm still the boss.

I call the shots.

Maybe at first,
but not for very long.

No. You want me
to be your equal.

Have the same opportunities,
the same success.

Maybe that's just a ruse
to keep it going.

No. No. You believe in me.

You think I'm smart.

Maybe even smarter than you
in some things.

And you trust me.

You defer to me.

You see past the person
that I--I pretend to be,

that I present
to the world--

confident,
competent in all things--

to the person I am.

Afraid...

that I'm average.

The ugly parts
don't scare you away.

You have ugly parts?

I push you away,

fall in and out of bed
with other men,

and somehow you love me...

...enough to let me go
find my own happiness,

even if it doesn't
include you.

So I'm a saint.

No.

No. You're broken too.

You're afraid and...

...and insecure.

But I know
all the broken places.

You've shown them to me.

So we've kissed
each other's bruises.

We have.

Maybe he's the guy
for you, Virginia.

♪ One is the loneliest number ♪

♪ That you'll ever do ♪

♪ Two can be as bad as one ♪

♪ It's the loneliest number
since the number one ♪

♪ No is
the saddest experience ♪

♪ You'll ever know ♪

Hello?

Uh, you've reached

the Reproductive Biology
Research Foundation.

Mrs. Johnson?
Uh...

Let me just take a message.

Okay.

She'll call you back
in the morning.

Thank you.

♪ It's just no good anymore ♪

♪ Since you went away... ♪

Operator.

Hello, may I have the number

for the Checker Cab Company,
please?

You had them all along?

I'm sorry.

Forgive me?

♪ One is the loneliest number ♪

♪ That you'll ever know ♪

♪ One is the loneliest number ♪

♪ One is
the loneliest number ♪

I hope you're capable
of changing your ways.

Otherwise, I really don't think
this arrangement is gonna last.

This is not a reprieve.

Oh.

Libby left her coat.

I'll see that she gets it.
Thank you.

Okay, then.

Bill?

Bill, there's something
that I need to tell you.

Dan and I aren't married.

We never got married.

The reasons are complicated.

And I know that I should've
told you this sooner,

but it was just
never the right time,

and then it--it got
away from me.

I know.

You know?

Yeah, I've known for a while.

I'm--I'm really sorry.

What are you sorry for?

I'll see you at the office,
Virginia.

Drive safely.

♪ Ohh, oh, oh, oh ♪